CITY FIRE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 885, 11 December 1916, Page 11

CITY FIRE.

OLD BUILDINGS DEMOLISHED.

A two-storey wooden building, 105 Armagh Street, occupied by A. W. Lane, a bootmaker, and also by his wife, who carries on a fruit business, was partly demolished by fire to-day. The fire originated amongst a number of empty packing cases owned by Messrs T. Armstrong and Co., drapers, whose premises are situated a few doors down the street. It is believed that sparks from the chimney of Mr Lane's building caused the mischief. Within a few minutes of its commencement, about 1.25 p.m., the cases were a mass of charred remains, while the flames w-ere licking and running up the wooden walls of the old building. The Fire Brigade was promptly on the scene, a jet from the high-pressure system playing on the blaze, which had ignited the back rooms and the upstairs portion in a mass of flame, and had spread into the shop while a chemical hose was directed with a view to preventing the fire spreading. Within a few minutes it was seen that the fire had been mastered, but the result had left the building in a ruin, while the only part which had escaped actual contact—part of the shop and contents—had been gutted and spoilt by water. On the roof of the premises of Bishop and Co., wine merchants, which adjoin, indications were that the fire was at work, but a stream from the hose soon put the issue beyond doubt, the smoke and sparks which were in evidence quickly ceasing. A rather sad part of the affair is that Mr Lane, the owner, who is 84 years old, had been in occupation of the premises for 45 years. He is bed ridden and had to be carried out from the remains of his home—for he resides on the premises. As he left, his cry was, "After all these years, all gone." The insurances are £3OO in the Liverpool London and Globe Insurance Company on the building. The contents are uninsured.